The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-03-04

that member that the presiding officer
had determined that it was not ex.
pedient to have any measure of thai
kind proposed during that session OF
Congress. Mr.. President, this is ques-
ton which goes clear down to the
fundamental rocks on which our Con-
stitutional structure is erected ]
would rather have the Emperor of Rus.
STA or the King of Bombay to rule over
me than to have, under the pretense OF
Constitutional form, the right denied to
my representative to utter the will of the
American people, when constitutionally
expressed by the voice of the majority
in each branch. We have not thought
il desirable, in the state of public feel
ing, in the condition of public business
in the prevailing sentiment of the
American people, to insist upon an ex-
ira session of Congress; but wish, for
one, to give notice that, in my judg-
ment, this is the last time that usurpa-
ton will be submitted to.
Mr.. Beck-I was called out of the
chamber for awhile, and was only in
time to hear VIII t seems to me a most
remarkable TRADE against the Speaker
of the House of Representatives.
That gentleman needs no defense at my
hands, and had supposed that in the
Senate of the United States, under the
rules and proprieties of the occasion,
comment upon the action of the Speaker
would notbe indulgedtin. l have only
this to say, that there is no man in
Massachusetts, or outside of Massachu-
sets; who will attack either the in
tegrity, honesty or ability. of the
Speaker OF the present House with i'm
punity in his presence. There are $50
partisans of the Senator from Massa.
chusetts on the floor of the other House,
all of whom have the right to- make
whatever attack they please, and if they
do they will receive response BETTING
the attack. .-s-r.E.g .F..
Hoar-I ask the Senator from Ken
lucky, whether he denies a single asser-
ton Of fact that l have made, or
whether he does not agree with me in
my opinion of this matter, and whether
he does not think that it is an invasion
of the constitutional power OF the
Senate and House?
Beck-I have no right to know on
this floor whether the statements
made by the Senator from Mas
sachusetts are true or not. If they are
true, and if they are invasions of5the
rights of the House of Representatives
there are representatives. there able to
take care of themselves. The Speaker
of the Houseis also able to take care of
himself against any one and all who
see fit to attack him. Mr.. BlaiBe's
name has been brought up and con-
trasted with the present Speaker. There
never has been in that chair a man of
more undoubted integrity, man of
greater fairness or Of more ability than
the present Speaker of that House, and
think it is not fair
Mr.. Harris-Nor becoming ~.
Mr.. Beck-It is not fair, I say, to at
tack him behind his back, when no man
dares to attack him before his face l
ask the Senator from Massachusetts, to-
go over to the House and get some of
the able Republicans OF that floor to
make this charge, and will guarantee
that the Speaker will come down from
the chair and refute all the ISLANDERS
which they dare to heap upon him,
have no idea that he has
violated any rule of that body, or
any rule of courtesy, or any
rule Of honor, or that he has
done any act, either revolutionary or
wrong, since he has presided over that
great body; and no man will dare tell
him that he has Let the Senator
from Massachusetts go over there and
pc rsuade the bitterest partisan on that
floor to rise in his. place and make the
charges there which the Senator has
made here, and he win be answered to
the satisfaction of the country.
Mr.. Hoar-Mr. President, l have
made no criticism affecting the personal
honor or personal character of any
body. L spoke simply of the
OF constitutional power
which blocks legislation. If L
had been a member of the House of
L should have discussed
1t there. | discuss it as an American
citizen, as an American Senator, and /
say (andL do not believe there are five
men on the other side of the chamber
who differ with me), that it is total
reversal, a revolution of constitutional
of procedure in legislation, in
any country. [ have said nothing 4
which involves any disrespect to the
accomplished gentleman and public
nan to whom the Senator from Ken
lucky sjust referred. Ny respect for
lm is as great as the Senator's
n all particulars which make up
The character of the gentleman
IT the character of the able and accom-
oiished statesman. l am not dealing
With that; am dealing with an asser-
ION OF Constitutional power which, II 1t
passes unrebuked, and it be successful,
viii turn the whole legislative mechan-
sm OF the country INTO farce.
Mr.. Beck-I do not believe that the
distinguished Speaker of the House has
lone any wrong Intentionally, do not
'elieve that any man will dare say, in
us presence, what has been said on this
loor behind his back without having,
N answer which ne would not like to
lear, and which would be a thorough
Mr.. Blackburn-Mr. President, / am
disposed TO regret that my colleague
Ound II necessary to make any reply
o the unWarTanted, unfounded and in
xcuSable trade, which the Senator
rom Massachusetts has seen fit to in |
u'ge in. 1t may be true that the rules !
t this Senate have become mossgrown |
nd old and effete TO the s ma or from
d Massachusetts,, but 1t does occur to me |
hat the universal rules OF propriety !
nd seE-respect and common decency |
hould yet prevail among US. [
% not think that the Speaker of !
he American Congress needs any |
etense. from an attack like that
manahng from such a quarter.
he idea of the Senator from Massa-
husetts assuming to stand on this floor |